U.S. civilian relief agencies are urging the U.S. government to approve requests to send food aid to North Korea.

Five U.S. aid organizations including Samaritan’s Purse said in a news conference on Monday that the food shortage situation is aggravating in North Korea and it may become a serious crisis next year.

The organizations called for the provision of aid to North Korea, saying that their officials had monitored the delivery of relief supplies to flood victims in North Korea earlier this month.